Week 13 Predictions and Notes

The 109th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State is slated for this Saturday in Columbus. Michigan leads the all-time series 58-44-2, and before winning last season’s clash lost seven straight. The Wolverines’ last win in Columbus came back in 2000. Together, the Buckeyes and Wolverines share 18 national championships from 1901-2002, and a whopping 79 conference titles stretching from 1898 all the way to 2010. In fact, of the 115 Big Ten football titles ever awarded, either Michigan or Ohio State, or a combination of the two, have won well over half. And from 1968-82 the Wolverines and/or Buckeyes captured 15 consecutive Big Ten crowns. Needless to say, Saturday will be one of the biggest games of the year in all of college football. Fitz Toussaint is out of the game, and the season for that matter with a broken leg, which means both Thomas Rawls and Vincent Smith will need to step it up. If Hoke and Borges decide to go with the "double deuce" package (Gardner at QB, Robinson at RB) then the Buckeye defense might be just as confused as Iowa's defense was. This years version of "The Game" will be mostly played for pride--Michigan's chances for the Legends Division win are pretty slim, and obviously Ohio State is ineligible for the postseason, so naturally this matchup is the Buckeye bowl game. One more week of Big Ten play before all the regular season is over, and things could not be more exciting.  I have researched all my predictions for the Big Ten conference season games, and with one week to go I'm 33-11. Let's see how I can finish up:

Week 12 Predictions and Notes

Week 12, last home game of the season, last home game for the seniors at Michigan. Denard Robinson's status is still up in the air but chances are Shoelace will be not be playing for the third consecutive game. Brady Hoke has been non-committal about his status ever since he was initially injured, but it's obvious to the rest of us that the injury to his elbow is more than just a boo boo. Robinson has meant a lot to Michigan fans and even when his passing skills were circumspect for a game, or whether he was being made fun of nationally--we always stood behind him. There was a bit on the Stoney and Bill show (on 97.1 The Ticket) in which Hoke was asked as to whether Robinson would be in for a "symbolic" play. I don't agree with that, but there are other ways for him to get on the field--as a halfback, returner, or a receiver. None of those options would require him to grip the ball with his throwing hand. Either way, good luck to Robinson, Roundtree, Barnum, Demens, and the rest of the seniors on their last home game at the Big House. Onto my weekly predictions: